MEMBERS of the Rural Services Network can obtain a special discount when booking a place at the 2012 rural policy conference.

Organised by the Countryside and Community Research Institute, the conference takes place in Gloucester on 27 September.

This year's theme centres on the rapidly changing picture of rural society.

Changes in the rural policy arena have been driven by austerity measures and a push towards new forms of policy making and service provision as part of 'The Big Society'.

The conference will consider changes at local, regional, national and international levels, which have posed new questions about rural policy.

The conference fee is £100 but an early-bird discount of £15 is available for those who book before 30 June, reducing the conference fee to £85.

After the 30 June, the CCRI is offering RSN members a discount of 10% off the full rate, therefore reducing the conference fee to £90.

Until 30 June, RSN members can book on the CCRI online store at the earlybird rate of £85.

From 1 July, RSN members can book by sending an email to Jill Harper jharper@glos.ac.uk, stating that they are an RSN member and therefore claiming 10% discount.

An invoice for £90, so they will therefore need to supply an address.

The full programme will be kept updated on the conference webpage by clicking here.